Julia Gillard gave some words of encouragement for the Indian women’s rugby team, which didn’t make it to the Asian Games.
Last year, the Indian women’s rugby team narrowly failed to make the cut for the Asian Games. The players were dejected. Some of them had declined job offers, expecting to be away playing. It was a lose-lose situation.
The girls have received a message of encouragement from an unlikely source, former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard.
Gillard is a fan of Aussie Rules Football (footy), a sport with a similar ball and physicality as rugby, though with different rules. She also leans on footy and rugby players in her work for a mental health foundation in Australia.
Speaking to ETPanache during an event in Mumbai, Gillard said, “I know that it’s not an easy thing for new competitions to be established for women and for them to be taken seriously. So, my message [to the Indian team] would be that though it takes a lot of perseverance [to keep going], many girls will look up to them and how they deal with adversity.”
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India are ranked 48th in the world in a list of 53 nations. New Zealand are on top of the heap.
Gillard, 57, played hockey as a child (badly, she says). But Aussie Rules was the top sport in the state she grew up in — South Australia. “This was before Aussie Rules became the big national sport it is now,” Gillard said. “Then Australia was divided in states that were predominantly interested in Aussie Rules or rugby league. I grew up in South Australia, in the years when football was really local, when your sports teacher in school would be a football player. So, it was a natural thing to develop an interest in Aussie Rules.”
The Western Bulldogs is Gillard’s favourite team. It is based in one of Melbourne’s rough neighbourhoods — Footscray. “It has been a historically disadvantaged area. I admire the resilience and sense of community that keeps the team going,” Gillard said.
ET Women's Forum: Shikha Sharma, Diana Hayden, Aditi Mittal Reveal How To Prioritise Oneself
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Eminent women suggest what you should do to put yourself first.
In pic from left: (Shikha Sharma, Diana Hayden, Aditi Mittal)
Eminent women suggest what you should do to put yourself first.In pic from left: (Shikha Sharma, Diana Hayden, Aditi Mittal)
Shikha Sharma, Former MD, Axis Bank
My advice for women has always been, ‘Believe in yourself.’ Do not overcompensate by being aggressive or being like anybody else. You never win by playing someone else’s game. You only win by playing your own game. So, play to your strengths. Make sure you are learning every day.
Shikha Sharma, Former MD, Axis BankMy advice for women has always been, ‘Believe in yourself.’ Do not overcompensate by being aggressive or being like anybody else. You never win by playing someone e..
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Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997
To put yourself first, you need to change your thought process. It’s all in your head and that’s where it starts. Understand and truly get self-confident. You need to treat yourself well. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Diana Hayden, Miss World 1997To put yourself first, you need to change your thought process. It’s all in your head and that’s where it starts. Understand and truly get self-confident. You need to tre..
We need to learn to be a bit more selfish. We always tend to put others before us and I think we need to take the time out to pamper ourselves. Whether it’s going to the salon or going to watch a movie, do certain selfish things and schedule it. And also, choosing the right man to marry is important. While you can use your head and heart for other decisions, I would recommend going with your gut for this one.
Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure PharmaceuticalsWe need to learn to be a bit more selfish. We always tend to put others before us and I think we need to take the time out to pamper ourselves..
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Namrata Joshipura, Founder, Joshipura Designs
Never feel guilty. As working women and mothers, we do our best. When my daughter was much younger, I would often feel guilty that I’m either in the office or when I was with her, I would feel guilty about not being in the office. Today, I feel I gave my child, my home, and my work as much time as each needed. I did and am doing my best.
Namrata Joshipura, Founder, Joshipura DesignsNever feel guilty. As working women and mothers, we do our best. When my daughter was much younger, I would often feel guilty that I’m either in the offic..
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Rashmi Shukla, ADGP, Maharashtra Police
If you want to maintain a balance (between work and life), be mentally prepared to accept responsibilities. In my case, I had tremendous support from my late husband. What is important is to know your limitations. Once you know your limitations, they can become your strengths.
Rashmi Shukla, ADGP, Maharashtra PoliceIf you want to maintain a balance (between work and life), be mentally prepared to accept responsibilities. In my case, I had tremendous support from my late hu..
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Aditi Mittal, Comedian
Women are often conditioned to think that the needs of others come before their own. So, put yourself first. We normally put other people first at the cost of ourselves. Like the emergency mask on the flight, you need to put yours on first before you help the child. That’s so you can breathe enough before you empower the child.
Aditi Mittal, ComedianWomen are often conditioned to think that the needs of others come before their own. So, put yourself first. We normally put other people first at the cost of ourselves. Like th..
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Fawzia Koofi, Member of Parliament, Afghanistan
The first thing is setting goals for yourself. And the second thing is to stay committed to what you believe in. Often for women, it’s not easy to stick to what they believe in and what they want to achieve. During times like these, you need to keep your focus.
Fawzia Koofi, Member of Parliament, AfghanistanThe first thing is setting goals for yourself. And the second thing is to stay committed to what you believe in. Often for women, it’s not easy to stick..
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Vidya Shah CEO, EdelGive Foundation
It is this feeling of ‘I am no different’ and seeing humanity in yourself, not just as a woman but as a person. We are no different from anybody else, so I don’t know why we (women) get into the thing that I’m a woman so I won’t be able to do this or won’t be able to access that. That is vital. A lot of us on the panel were raised in ordinary homes but we were raised to believe that we are no different.
Vidya Shah CEO, EdelGive FoundationIt is this feeling of ‘I am no different’ and seeing humanity in yourself, not just as a woman but as a person. We are no different from anybody else, so I don’t kn..
